Support and gliding mechanism for chair or sofa

ABSTRACT

A support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa includes a base; an elongated, generally U-shaped support arm on the base; a three-sided end housing pivotally mounted on each free end of the support arm, the housing having inverted triangular sides and a rectangular end extending between outer edges of the sides; and a generally rectangular chair support frame defined by side walls, the bottom corners of which are pivotally connected to the bottom corners of the housing sides, the result being a closed structure covering most of the base even during gliding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a support and gliding mechanism for a chair or a sofa.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Rocking and gliding mechanisms for chairs or sofas of the type described herein are disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,433, issued to R. E. Holobough Jr. on Jun. 27, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,557, issued to P. Bellefleur on Sep. 7, 1999 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,870, issued to C. Desnoyers et al on Jul. 25, 2000, and US Patent Application No. 2003/0015900, published on Jan. 23, 2003.

A problem with some currently available mechanisms of the type disclosed by the above-identified patent literature is that the mechanisms, which can be unsightly, are often visible beneath the seat portion of the chair or sofa. Manufacturers often go to considerable expense to hide such mechanisms. Moreover, the mechanisms can be quite complex and/or large, involving many components.

One attempt to give a mechanism of the type in question more eye appeal is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,870, which issued to C. Desnoyer et al on Jul. 25, 2000. The Desnoyer et al chair support mechanism is somewhat bulky and the base of the chair is still visible during rocking.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solution to the above mentioned problems in the form of a relatively simple, compact and aesthetically pleasant support and rocking mechanism for a chair or sofa.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention relates to a support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa comprising:

(a) a base for supporting the mechanism on a horizontal surface;

(b) an elongated support arm on said base having a pair of upwardly extending free ends;

(c) a pair of end housings, each said housing including:

-   -   (i) side panels pivotally connected to the free ends of said         support arm for rotation around horizontal axes extending         between top, outer corners of the side panels, and     -   (ii) an end panel extending between outer side edges of the side         panels, said end panels defining end walls of the mechanism; and

(d) a chair support frame including:

-   -   (i) a pair of side walls having bottom corners pivotally         connected to bottom corners of said side panels, whereby said         side walls can rotate around horizontal axes extending         transversely of the mechanism between the bottom corners of the         side panels, and     -   (ii) a first crossbar extending between top edges of the side         walls for supporting a chair or sofa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a support and gliding mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side views of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 to 5 at the ends of a gliding action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the support and gliding mechanism of the present invention is mounted on a base, which includes a circular baseplate 1 and a post 2. The baseplate 1 can be connected to a turntable or other large, circular base, and the post can be extensible, i.e. telescopic, usually, as is conventional in existing gliders or rocking chairs of the type disclosed herein, the baseplate 1 and the post 2 are solid, one-piece elements.

An elongated support arm 3 is mounted on the top end of the post 2. As best shown in FIG. 5, the support arm 3 is generally U-shaped with a flat, horizontal center section 5, and a pair of inclined, upwardly and outwardly extending end sections 6. A sleeve 7 is welded to the outer free end 8 of each arm section 6.

A three-sided end housing indicated generally at 10 is rotatably mounted on each free end 8 of the support arm 3. The housing 10 includes a pair of side panels 12, each of which defines an inverted triangle with a convex upper edge 13 and straight downwardly converging side edges 14. The outer side edges 14 of the panels 12 are interconnected by a rectangular end panel 15, which is integral with the panels 12. Crossbars 16 (FIG. 2) extend between the panels 12 near the bottom of the inner side edges 14 thereof. Bearings 18 in the ends of the sleeves 7 and bolts 19 extending through the side panels 12 into the bearings rotatably connect the housings 10 to the ends 8 of the arm 3. The axes or pivot points of the bearings 18 and the bolts 19 are at the top, outer corners of the side panels 12.

Bearings 20 and bolts 21 pivotally connect the bottom corners of the side walls 22 of a chair supporting fame indicated generally at 23 to the housings 10. The frame side walls 22, which are generally rectangular, have a slightly concave bottom edge 25, and upwardly and inwardly inclined ends 26. A wide flange 27 extends outwardly from the top edges of the side walls 22 for reinforcing the frame 23, i.e. to give the frame lateral rigidity. V-shaped notches 29 in the top center of the side walls 22 receive a laterally extending angle iron 30. The angle iron 30 is welded to the frame side walls 22 and the flanges 27. The angle iron 30 and the flanges 27 support a rocking/gliding chair or sofa (not shown). Because one end of the mechanism is the mirror image of the other, either housing 10 can form the front or rear end of the chair support.

FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 illustrate the gliding action of the mechanism of the present invention. In the rest position of the mechanism (FIG. 3), approximately one-half of each housing 10 is covered by the side walls of the chair supporting frame 23. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, during gliding, first one and then the other housing 10 is more or less fully exposed at the extremes of travel of the chair supporting frame 23. However, in every position of the chair, there are virtually no gaps visible from the exterior of the mechanism. Moreover, because post 2 is short, the top outer free ends 6 of the support arm 3 are a substantial distance above the center section 5 and the housings 10 and the frame 23 are high, very little of the base 1 is visible beneath the frame 23 even in the extreme end positions of the mechanism during gliding. Finally, the crossbars 16 shown in FIG. 2 not only reinforce the end housing 10, but they act as stops for limiting movement of the supporting frame 23. At the extremes of movement of the support frame 23, the crossbars 16 engage the bottom of the support arm 3. 

1. A support and gliding mechanism for a chair or sofa comprising: (a) a base for supporting the mechanism on a horizontal surface; (b) an elongated support arm on said base having a pair of upwardly extending free ends; (c) a pair of end housings, each said housing including: (i) side panels pivotally connected to the free ends of said support arm for rotation around horizontal axes extending between top, outer corners of the side panels, and (ii) an end panel extending between outer side edges of the side panels, said end panels defining end walls of the mechanism; and (d) a chair support frame including: (i) a pair of side walls having bottom corners pivotally connected to bottom corners of said side panels, whereby said side walls can rotate around horizontal axes extending transversely of the mechanism between the bottom corners of the side panels, and (ii) a first crossbar extending between top edges of the side walls for supporting a chair or sofa.
 2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said side panels are inverted triangles having outer top corners pivotally connected to said free ends of the support arm, and bottom corners pivotally supporting bottom corners of said side walls.
 3. The mechanism of claim 1 including a horizontal sleeve on each free end of said support arm, and first bearings in each said sleeve for pivotally supporting said side panels.
 4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said base includes a baseplate, and a post extending upwardly from said baseplate for supporting said support arm.
 5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said side panels are integral with said end panels.
 6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said chair support frame includes outwardly extending flanges on the top edges of said side walls for reinforcing the frame and for supporting a chair or sofa.
 7. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein each said end housing includes a second crossbar extending between said side panels proximate inner side edges and the bottom corners thereof for reinforcing said end housing and for engaging said support arm during gliding to limit movement of said chair support frame relative to said base. 